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East Bay local digest: Stanford star pitcher Mark Appel stands by decision to return for senior season

Staff and wire reports

Posted:
01/30/2013 08:32:56 PM PST

Updated:
01/30/2013 09:59:32 PM PST

In the end, Mark Appel called it a no-lose situation.

Pitching in the major leagues has been a lifelong dream, but it will have to wait a year for the Stanford senior All-America to earn his bachelor's degree and help the Cardinal baseball team reach the College World Series.

Last season, Appel (Monte Vista High) posted a 10-2 record and 2.56 ERA. He was taken eighth overall in the major-league draft last July by Pittsburgh, but he decided the price wasn't right to sign.

"I was at peace with it," he said Wednesday. —... I asked my parents, my friends, my advisors, my coaches ... anybody who had an influence on me. When it came down to it, it was still my choice."

Kyra Dunn, a Sacramento native who played 57 games at Pittsburgh, has transferred to Cal and will become eligible to play after the first semester in 2013-14 as a junior.

Brandon Hagy, Max Homa, Michael Kim and Michael Weaver of the top-ranked Cal men's golf team were named to the Ben Hogan Award watch list. Saint Mary's Ben Geyer and Stanford's Patrick Rodgers were also on the list. The top college golfer will be announced May 20.